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Just announced! Tickets on sale now for our first Nashville Guitar Club – April 19th event! Come join us at 12th & Porter and support some of the worlds greatest guitar players doing what they do best.

Chris has also graced the stages of several morning and late night shows, American Idol, The Grammy Awards, The American Music Awards, The ACM Awards, The CMA Awards, the CMA Country Christmas specials and the Grand Ole Opry. Over the last two decades, Chris has hit the road to perform with the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Peter Cetera, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Ronnie Dunn, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Loggins, and Billy Currington. When he isn’t traveling the world, Chris can be spotted at various venues playing with Nashville’s foremost seasoned artists and musicians, The Nashville Alternators. Originally founded in May 2010 while organizing a benefit for flood victims, they can be found performing at private and corporate events, fundraisers, tradeshows, the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators games.

Additionally, Chris served as Musical Director in Keb’ Mo’s Monday Night Blues Show at the Studio Gallery at Fontanel and has produced several independent international records such as Ward Thomas (United Kingdom), Ben Mullen (Canada), Charly(Germany) and Salvador (United States).

Larry Mitchell

Larry Mitchell

Larry Mitchell is a Grammy award-winning producer, engineer and performer who has toured the world playing guitar with well-known artists including Tracy Chapman, Billy Squier, Ric Ocasek and Miguel Bosé. In his original compositions, Larry skillfully weaves guitar textures that showcase his virtuosity as a solo artist and ensemble player.

As an artist, he has released 8 solo records and won a San Diego Music Award for best pop jazz artist. Larry is currently touring promoting his 2016 release “The Traveler”

As a producer-engineer, Larry has won 26 New Mexico Music Awards in various categories from pop, adult contemporary, rap, rock, country World music and Native American. He won a Grammy Award for producing, engineering and performing on “Totemic Flute Chants” by Native American artist Johnny Whitehorse, who is better known as Robert Mirabal of Taos Pueblo.

Larry is currently touring with his own trio as well as solo shows in support of “The Traveler”

Mitch Malloy

Mitch Malloy

Rocker Mitch Malloy has released his new, full-length CD MAKING NOISE. This recording marks the first time Malloy has undertaken an album solely by himself from start to finish – songwriting, producing, instruments, mixing and mastering. “I have always brought in a few musicians or songwriters to work with me on projects in the past and have really enjoyed what they brought to the table. But this time, I was in a different place and really needed to work through everything musically by myself…thus, My Therapy!” said Malloy tongue-in-cheek about the first single, with video, aptly called My Therapy.

Mitch has been busy the past year not only writing and producing his own album but also writing and producing projects for clients in his studio, Malloy Master Tracks. Mitch states, “I love working with young artists and passing the torch to a new generation of rockers.” Malloy Master Tracks is a full-service production facility that serves a variety of clients from hit acts and labels like Taylor Swift, Boys Like Girls, Kenny Loggins, Johnny Gates, Craig Morgan and Sony Music NY to singer/songwriters Victoria Show, Gary Burr and Billy Falcon and even voice over work for Outdoor Channel, Field & Stream and various other brands.

Malloy’s tenure as an artist has spanned several decades beginning as a regular on the New York music scene in the 80s. Mitch soon garnered a major recording deal with RCA/BMG Worldwide and achieved chart success and landed a coveted spot on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In the mid-90s Mitch was asked to replace Sammy Hagar as lead singer for Van Halen but after spending time and recording with the band he declined. “When the band appeared on the MTV Music Awards with Dave [David Lee Roth], the fans expected his return — I expected his return. I felt as cool as the opportunity was, it just wasn’t the right time,” said Malloy.

For the launch of his 2016 release, Mitch Malloy embarked on the international MAKING NOISE tour which began in the summer and included stops at the world famous Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, Nashville, London, Liverpool, Athens, Madrid, Malmo and Oslo, to name a few. The tour will continue in 2017 and includes a special stop at the M3 Festival. Also look for Mitch on the 2018 Monsters of Rock Cruise!

Denny Jiosa

Denny Jiosa

Every artist owns a desire to craft a project that most perfectly represents the substance of their God-given creativity. It becomes a very personal statement, and often, the work for which they are best–known.

For Denny Jiosa, the release of Dreams Like This is a deﬁning moment, the product not only of ﬁve years of work since his last release, but a faithful rendition of his musical inﬂuences and tastes. “THIS is the album I’ve always wanted to make!” says Jiosa, and it shows. “I started writing for this project almost immediately after the completion of Body2Body,” Denny muses. “I love all the albums that I created for my previous record label, 1201 Music, but I had begun to realize that my musical interests had a wider range than the format I’d been writing for. My early inﬂuences stretched all the way from Wes Montgomery to Carlos Santana. That’s quite a distance. I wanted to make an album that captured all those things that made me want to play music in the ﬁrst place.”

You’ll ﬁnd those ﬂavors here: straight-ahead jazz, Latin, smooth jazz and cinematic landscapes all unfold effortlessly giving us a glimpse of Denny’s prodigious musical vocabulary. He has an uncanny way of expressing deep emotions through the twists, turns and nuances of his seductive melodies. The song Chill Pill opens the CD with a funky contemporary groove with some surprises. Embracing the Fire sizzles with high-voltage Latin energy. I Am Roxane, which the enhanced CD also features as a full length video, smolders with provocative sensuality and you’ll want to savor the languorous The Glass Half Full like a glass of ﬁne wine.

The centerpiece of this album, however, may be Denny’s lusciously smooth, masterfully soulfulrendition of Sunny, which features the original composer and performer, Bobby Hebb contributing scat vocals. Denny recalls, “I’ve loved that song since ﬁ rst hearing it on the radio in 1966. A friend introduced me to Bobby, who agreed to come to my studio to listen to the version I’d recorded of his song. Not only did he give his overwhelming approval, he wanted to sing on the track! Nothing could’ve made an album about my musical dreams more complete.”

“God blessed me with a passion for music; I knew I was to play music from very early on… it was written on my heart.” When Denny looks inside, Dreams Like This encapsulates the music he ﬁnds written there.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Industry insiders have recognized Denny Jiosa’s abilities for some time. His ﬁve previous CD releases and a string of chart-topping singles have earned Denny a steadfast following. His most popular single, Lights of the City, garnered a SESAC national airplay award. Musical colleagues have long relied upon his abilities. In addition to his work as a producer, he is credited both as guitarist and recording engineer on several Grammy nominated releases. Dreams Like This once again ﬁnds Denny among friends, in the ranks of world–class musicians, including Chester Thompson (Genesis, Santana, Frank Zappa); Chris Kent (Take 6, Larry Carlton); Glen Caruba (Kirk Whalum, Glen Frey); Pat Coil (Pat Metheny, Michael McDonald), and fellow artists Dan Moretti and Rob McGaha.

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David Lowry was the guest on Nashville Today with Devon O’Day and Karlin Evins. David discussed the state of board games today, Freedom The Underground Railroad and 1775 Rebellion by Academy Games, Castle Panic by Fireside Games, Lords of Rock by Solarflare Games, and the upcoming Christian trivia game Thank Heaven by Zvago Games. David also talked about the upcoming live event series The Nashville Guitar Club staring up in the month of April.

Nashville Today is a Lifestyle and Entertainment talk show providing listeners with an appealing and informative look at all things Nashville. Nashville Today connects listeners with the great vibe and energetic lifestyle of Music City! Devon and special guests will cover everything from new music to new restaurants, things to do in Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry, and all things in between!

I was lucky enough to be able to catch The Neil Morse Band last night at Rocketown. It’s a 3,000 seat venue in the heart of downtown Nashville. This would be my first chance to see this band live but I had the opportunity to interview Neil personally twice as we both are in the Nashville area. Here is a clip of him performing Momentum acoustically from the first interview back in 2013 (Click on the link to hear the audio.) I have seen Mike Portnoy a few different times, the first being back in 1992 I believe in Colorado Spring of the Images and Words tour when he was Dream Theater and most recently back in 2015 when he was performing at the Wildhorse with The Winery Dogs. Here is my review of that epic show. Mike is probably one of the Top 10 most influential in my life. He was the first drummer that made me see all the different musical layers that a brilliant drummer actually brings to the song beyond keeping the a beat and driving the bus. Which seems a bit strange since I grew up listening to Neil Peart, Bill Bruford, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd etc…. But for some reason, Mike just really clicked with my ear and imagination.

Me with The Neal Morse Band and a soon to be released game “The Lords of Rock”

But this…. This would be interesting. Their new CD “The Similitude of a Dream” is an epic double concept masterpiece (IMHO) which rises to the level of Dream Theater’s “Scenes from a Memory” featuring Portnoy ironically and it truly brought the Neil Morse Band to life for me in a new way. While lyrically, Neil uses his faith to spur his songs, he does so in a way that is counter to typical faith based music. He does it interestingly, with stories, with relate-able trials one goes through before finding themselves and with out all the tripe and cliches of typical CCM music. I should know, I was in one of those bands and worked that side of the industry for years.

The Neil Morse Band

For me, this show was one of the very few times I get to go see live music and see people who I consider to be true musicians who raise the bar each time they put out new music. Most of the time, I feel like I am seeing average musicians or even below and it can be quite disheartening especially if they can’t even be good performers or entertainers let alone musicians. However, I hadn’t seen this band live and knew very little about the other musicians in the band other than hearing them on the CD. In today’s world, we can make everyone sound brilliant on CD no matter their musical skill level, but the live show is the proof in the pudding. This is where we really see if they are as good as their CD sounds. Of course, I know that they wouldn’t be in the band if they weren’t brilliant musicians, my own client Jon Finn, a Berklee college professor tried out for this band a few years back. But I always hold a bit of skepticism until I see a band live. I have been burned too many times. I had watched Neil play for me on two occasions and I had seen Mr. Portnoy on several occasions in different settings.

The Neil Morse Band

I won’t go into set lists and songs as the show is the full “Similitude” CD plus a few encores because I want to relate the “experience” to you. To me, the most important part of any live show is the “experience.” Am I truly getting something I can’t get anywhere else or at least from very few bands. To that I can emphatically say yes. The thing that blows me away with this band up front is that their live show sounds EXACTLY like the CD. Even with Neil’s onstage energy, it is a literal duplicate of the CD. So not only am I getting a pitch perfect show in every way, I am getting the energy as well as realizing that this is one of those truly rare bands that put their energy into the recording of their CD such as that when it is played live, there is no difference. Do you see what I am saying here? Either medium of listening, either by CD or live, you are getting the “experience.” Only one has you right there to watch. Now that is an amazing quality to have as musicians.

The Neil Morse Band

Neil likes to incorporate a bit of theater in his show by switching into characters and outfits that follow along the story of the CD. Some of the musicians followed suit by “dressing” the part of what I would guess is a bit of a dystopian future. While the band performs, there is a screen up in the back helping to set the stage for the experience by allowing the imagery to help you see in your “mind’s eye” the story which Neil is trying to convey to the audience. The show is divided into 3 parts. The first set of the first half of the CD followed by a short intermission. Then the band returns to play the second half of the CD followed by the traditional encore of 3 songs. That is the basic framework of the show. The band is so busy playing straight through, that are only a few times that they get to stop and talk with the audience, which is normally a very important part of any show. Here however, it didn’t matter at all. The experience did all the work and provided everything we needed to hear and see.

The Neil Morse Band

Musicianship wise, I can’t even begin to tell you how amazed I was. On top of being absolutely spot on to the CD, the various different talents I saw was jaw dropping. The harmonies… wow…. The harmonies were amazing. Four voices in harmony sounding melodic, full and almost angelic at times. Harmonies are a lost art in the music industry these day. Always appreciate and never take for granted those that can sing harmonies. They are the most under appreciated skill and quite possibly one of the most important skills to making anything sound huge. The other thing I noticed that I loved was the lack of stage volume. This was very impressive to me as I have witness many bands who all use ear monitors who still have overbearingly loud stage volume. I was right in front of the guitar amp and could barely hear it. This allows the soundman to do his job with having to have massive instrument bleed into drum mics or vocal mics. Hence, a crystal clear sound coming out of the mains in which all parts can be heard and appreciated like they are supposed to be.

The Neil Morse Band

I want to talk a bit about a couple guys who probably don’t get much attention in this band. First let’s talk about Bill Hubauer. Never judge a musician by it’s cover. Living in Nashville, you learn to not assume anything based on the way anyone looks or dresses. If you look at me, you immediately assume I am a musician. If I had seen Bill anywhere else, I would have no clue that this man was a musician let alone that he can play keys, sax, mandolin and sing very, very well. I can play one instrument fairly proficiently even after attending school. This man is playing everything in sight and killing it. It’s a very humbling thing to see such talent in one individual. While Bill has spots to shine, I know there is so much more he can do. Unfortunately with a stage full of super musicians, time and space is limited. I truly look forward to discovering more about Bill and his music.

Next is Eric Gillette. Eric is the main guitar player in the band… but wait, what the… He sings like that too? Now I am just feeling demoralized at my abilities lol. Then I go to his website and find out that he also plays drums and keys….. I officially hang up my guitar. Not only did he play flawlessly the whole show, he singing is quite incredible. Eric is a very melodic player that has unique phrasing and the ability to mold, meld and utilize, theory, technique and harmony into rich, complex lines that tell a story versus sounding another GIT graduate shredding scales in an effort to sound brilliant. But most importantly, he only does so when necessary to take a part to its inevitable conclusion. This isn’t a shred fest by any means. Eric is a tasteful player who understands songwriting, composition and dynamics and employs all these things into memorable parts that help take the songs to new heights. I don’t know how old Eric is, I am guessing late 20’s but his playing is mature beyond his years and it honestly a honor to watch and listen to.

Of course Neil is also a multi-instrumentalist on stage. Not only covering most of the lead vocals, he plays guitar, acoustic guitar both 6 and 12 string and pulls out his strat for crunchy rhythms and tasty, jazz induced solos. Neil is the kind of player that blows my mind with his lines. He doesn’t play or sound like anyone else I have ever heard. His lines always make my ears perk up due to the melodic content coming from his fingers. I am constantly going, “how did he come up with that?” or “Why can’t I sound like that?” I honestly think I am most impressed with his song writing/lyric writing. I have had time to get used to the “shell shock” from seeing him play in person over the last couple years. Now I can see the brilliance in his lyrics and the appreciate the vision he has for his shows.

What can I say about Mike Portnoy? Nothing that hasn’t been iterated a million times over from the throngs of fans this man has influenced or inspired. Mike is truly one of the most awe-inspiring musicians I have ever witnessed. He does things with his drum kit that boggle the mind and make 98% percent of the drummers out there sound 2-dimensional. I don’t mean that in a bad way or as in insult. I mean that so as to say that, Mike’s ability to compose on his kit is almost without equal and his innate ability to create sonic landscapes the drumming is absolutely stunning and beyond compare. Today, we now have so many amazing drummers that come out of the woodwork to play things we could never have imagined before. There are some amazing drummers but there is that rarified air that is “John Bonham, Buddy Rich, Neil Peart and Mike Portnoy.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see much of bass player Randy George as there were a couple gentlemen always in front of me with their camera filming or just blocking the view and I was in the front row on the opposite side of the stage. However, his sound was unmistakable and as a bass player should be, a key component to the overall sound. Randy had a short solo in which we got see/here what most of us don’t get to witness as often, the high level of his talent. Randy drove the bus and that carries the songs where they are supposed to go. He does what all great bass players are supposed to do, he brings it home. He is the foundation that supports the structure so that it can rise high and mighty in its entirety. Not to mention his melodic contributions which I think are probably over looked. I know Randy also plays guitar and I am not sure what else, but he didn’t switch instruments during the live show.

The Neal Morse Band are quite possibly, the most underrated band out there today along with King’s X but for different reasons. Their live show is immaculate, breath taking and inspiring in both music and message. It is a sight and sound unlike any other and worth every penny you can spend to go see them. When every you get the chance to see this band or any other iteration of music that any of these gentlemen are involved in, you are doing yourself an injustice by not checking it out and allowing yourself to be immersed in what it truly means to be musical, brilliant and awash in a wave of sound, imagery that will not be replicated by anyone else again ever. True originality is a rare thing. These men have it, because they are so musically diverse in skills, they have a massive pallet of colors to always work from for true creativity and inspiring themes.

To steal a phrase from their the last CD “The Grand Experiment,” seeing The Neal Morse Band live is the “Grand experience.”

Final note: I don’t think any of these musicians are doing it for the fame. I don’t sense any ego, or need to be musically justified. I think at least in Neil’s case, he does it for the love of his faith and his music. This is true artistic authenticity at it’s finest.

The Neil Morse Band “So Far Gone” Official Video

The Neil Morse Band “The Man in the Iron Cage” Official Video

The Neil Morse Band “City of Destruction” Official Video

Buy “The Similitude of a Dream” CD Here:

Find out more about The Neil Morse Band and the musicians at these links:

I am writing this review not really having planned it, however, a few days ago I found myself listening to “Reach” the new CD from melodic rockers Tyketto while I was reorganizing my office before the new year began. Now admittedly, I was a fan of Tyketto from way back when their first CD came out and I was eagerly anticipating the new CD mainly because Chris Green was the guitar player for this CD and ever since finding out about him from C.J. Snare on the “Rubicon Cross” CD and having Chris on my radio show “Live From Music City” a few time, I was completely blown away by his body of work including his old band “Furyon” from England.

Tyketto

That being said, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Tyketto hadn’t put out new music in a few years and even then I wasn’t familiar with their last release. I hadn’t even heard about it. Would Danny Vaughn still have those amazing pipes from before? Would the hooks and soaring melodies which are a trademark of Tyketto’s songwriting from the yesteryear still be prevalent? How would the mesh of new musicians gel in the new songs? Could they capture the former glory of “Forever Young” or “Wings?” So many unanswered questions, but I promised I would buy the CD on the day it became available in the US and I did just that. I love supporting those I respect musically as making any money in this industry is enormously hard as is getting any real buzz about your music. Unfortunately, I didn’t really get a chance to sit and listen to the CD until a few days ago and I played it over and over again all day and night while I rearranged everything in site. I was completely enthralled in the music and didn’t even realize how long I had been listening to it.

Tyketto

I was completely shocked at how good the CD as a whole was. There literally wasn’t one weak song in the whole package and there are 13 songs on there! The hooks and melodies were most certainly still there. Vaughn sounded like he hadn’t aged a day and still brought huge vocals in a powerhouse style we rarely here anymore. The musicians sounded like they had been playing together their whole life. It was like there completely in lock-step with each other with every beat, every note and every musical idea was from a unit instead of one or two musicians with other people just playing parts meaning there is a real defining energy to this project. Not one song was lacking a hook. Not one. You could literally remember and sing back every song after hearing it just once. How effing often does that happen? Almost never.

Tyketto

I have a really hard time picking highlights for the CD as the whole things is so damn good it’s ridiculous. But here are the ones I guess stand out a bit more than the rest to me and I do mean barely at all. “Reach” is a big, bombastic, all-out hit single. It switches between mid-tempo acoustic versus to huge choruses that create an impressive dynamic range. “I Need It Now” starts off with a plodding drum and bass rhtym highlighted by guitar swells and glissando effects promptly moving into a funk like single note melodic line for the verses. Then it takes off into a four-on-the-floor straight ahead rocker and a nice vocal breakdown section. “Tearing Down The Sky” starts of with a fiery little guitar line that breaks into a syncopated guitar rhythm Ala “Forever Young”. Flowing, clean guitars fill the verses into heavy, forceful choruses that run into a face-melting solo. “The Fastest Man Alive” is a straight ahead rocker that is pushed by a funky finger picked clean rhythm guitar. They chorus is of course a hooky, powerful section with huge chords that allow themselves to breathe but never losing steam. ”Remember My Name” starts with a swampy feel of a clean almost “dobroish” sounding electric guitar that sucks you right into the muck and jumps right into a catchy, funky verse section. The chorus captures a huge hook with “Love is easy, but living is hard” supported by massive back ground vocals. “Sparks Will Fly” starts with a scratchy guitar funk rhythm switching into a more modern sound. The chorus captures a bit more of the Tyketto of old with the huge back ground vocals done in a way that just takes you back to their first CD. Of course how could it be Tyketto withohut the trademark Danny Vaughn ballads such as “Letting Go” and “Scream.”

Danny Vaughn has a way making versus almost as hooky as the choruses he writes which makes Tyketto’s songs transcend typical melodic schlock rock we are used to hearing from bands of that era. Every second of a Tyketto song comes through with purpose while still meeting all your needs as a listener. I can’t say that about any other band from that era including massively successful bands like Journey except maybe Toto. When you listen to this CD, it’s like Tyketto never had to adjust to the changing musical landscape. They do what they do and probably better than anyone else which allows them to always be themselves. Authentic, melodic hook writing behemoths that don’t cower to trends or expectations. This is who they are, take it or leave it, but they will still kick your ass and sound fucking amazing doing it. Which makes you wonder how so many people missed this band as they have always been a stellar group.

Musically “Reach” is a home run. It’s got incredible vocals, ripping guitars, melodic keys and a very tight, solid rhythm section that drives the bus home song after song. “Reach” captures not only the “feel good” sound of the 80’s rock that makes you want to roll down the windows of your car blasting it as loud as you can while driving down the Pacific Coast Highway, but also melds in today’s modern rock edge to bring together a very focused and driving melodic rock sonic landscape that should capture anyone’s ear and transport them to a new musical frontier that has been very hard to find in an age of average garage band rock and pop cotton candy fluff with little to no talent anywhere in sight.

To my own fault being a guitar player, I always single that out a bit more and I have to say that Chris Green never fails to impress. His work on this CD is impeccable and down right fucking awesome. Green is a guitar player that knows all the rules and throws the book away while being able to play effortless, melodic passages and fire-breathing solos. Green never sacrifices harmony or melody and not a lick or note is out of place while his technique so slick that his guitar sings lines that take your breath away while making you feel like you are climbing the heavens. Which is an absolute perfect match for the way Vaughn sings. It’s like they were born in tandem with different instruments accomplishing the same things. Chris Green is a monster guitar player and should be in your top 10 to watch period. I literally can’t think of another player to come out in the last 25 years that is able to blend incredible rhythm chops, melodic lines and crazy ass roller coaster solos so well into modern rock songs that keep that heavy edge and at the same time that ear candy melodic content that you sing over and over again in your head. For those interested Chris Green also just released his first instrumental CD “Unveil” a few weeks ago. Do yourself a favor and check it out here: http://www.chrisgreenmusic.com/

Chris Green – Unveil

In conclusion, let me just say that Tyketto’s new CD “Reach” does exactly just that. It reaches a musical landscape that has been lost for far too long. It is a tour de force of hard rock, catchy melodic hooks and a showcase of immense talent from all the musicians involved. Don’t wait, don’t hesitate. Go buy this CD right now and spread the word that Tyketto is back and better than ever.

David Lowry of Live From Music City talks with Andy Timmons about his new CD “Theme From A Perfect World” and his upcoming show in Nashville on October 6, 2016 at the Douglas Corner Cafe. In a first both both Andy and Live From Music City, we had a nice little jaunt with the police during the taping of the interview! Make sure you don’t miss it! Thank you to Andy Timmons for making this interview happen!

Click the video at the top of the page to listen to the interview.

ANDY TIMMONS BAND – US TOUR OF EAST COAST, NORTHWEST AND MIDWEST

(AUGUST 2016) ANDY TIMMONS BAND to tour the East coast, Northwest and Midwest this fall, debuting the soon to be released album “Theme From A Perfect World” as well as Sgt. Pepper and classic favorites. When Ibanez displays their instruments at music industry trade shows they prominently feature the world’s greatest guitar heroes; Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert…and Andy Timmons.

Timmons sparked his own guitar revolution scoring two top 10 videos on MTV with his band Danger Danger, selling over a million records, and touring the world opening for Kiss and Alice Cooper. A handful of critically acclaimed solo albums followed soon after as well as a long association as guitarist and music director for Olivia Newton-John.

Often referred to as “The King Of Tone,” Timmons scored another global success in 2011with his emotive interpretation of The Beatles ‘Sgt. Pepper’ album entirely arranged for guitar. Never one to sit still, Timmons also recorded four albums with world renowned drummer Simon Philips (Toto, The Who, Jeff Beck) and played them live across much of the world.

The Andy Timmons Band will be touring with special guest Travis Larson Band. With six studio albums and two full-length DVDs, the award-winning TLB is firmly rooted as one of instrumental music’s premier acts, having worked on records with Steve Lukather (Toto), Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck), Dave LaRue (Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Dixie Dregs), Vinx (Sting, Herbie Hancock). Additionally, the band has shared live billing with Ted Nugent, UFO, Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs), Ronnie Montrose, and The Aristocrats. TLB’s release Soundmind earned accolades as Guitar Player Magazine Editor’s Top Three in 2011. Travis Larson Band will release a new album in 2016. http://www.travislarsonband.com

From the moment I arrived at the Ryman to see Toto, the anticipation I felt was so palpable to me. I rarely get excited about anything anymore as I so often am let down, but I knew tonight would be different. I knew this band. I knew their body of work and had studied much of it as a musician myself. I constantly watch many of their live performances online so I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong. I was arrogant in my thinking. Completely arrogant. I had no clue really. From the moment the music started, I got chills like never before. At long last, some the musicians I admired more than any others where finally in front of me and it was pure magic. The sound of the band was breathtaking and for me personally, hearing Steve Lukather in person, finally was like hearing a choir of angels singing. I was completely enraptured in what was unfolding before me and it was like nothing I had ever heard or seen before. I was literally fighting back tears for most of the show. This was as close to perfect as I was ever going to see and I was in awe. It was the very best live concert I have ever witnessed and one of the best musical moments of my life.

Toto is a band that has it all figured it out, all though they would probably tell you differently. There isn’t anything out of place in the show. Everyone is fucking amazing at what they do. Every single one of them. The harmonies, the melodies, the rhythm section is beyond compare. The band is so incredibly tight and in sync it’s like watching perfection for the first time. The band understands how to play in a live situation so that everyone is heard. Each member knows when to play or not to play and how equalization works among the instruments. I can’t tell you how many shows I have been to that people were stepping all over each other either musically or in the bass frequencies.

Toto

Watching the interplay between the band members or how Leland Sklar weaves in out of slinky bass lines so adeptly that most people would never notice how good he really is, is mind blowing. Hearing the “backup” singers (I hate to call them that as is it seems like an insult in this instance) take up lead vocals or nail harmonies out of the park is so refreshing in an age where most bands can’t sing harmonies at all. Of course one of the things that seem to pass most people over without them realizing it, is the latin grooves that the legendary Lenny Castro lays down in such a masterful way over every song. The intricacies of their music really come alive in their show and enhances the sonic experience that your ears drink in. The blend of rock, pop, jazz, R&B and latin grooves is flawless, and it puts them on a level of performance very few can match. It’s a signature sound that Toto is known for but many take for granted. It is no easy task to write music like this let alone, dare I say it, be able to perform the music in a way that actually sounds better than the original recording. This is one area that Toto excels in (unlike most of today’s bands) and it was in full force this night. Most bands that I see nowadays can’t play or perform well enough to sound even close to their CD’s, but Toto was killing it live and it was fucking awesome.

The energy that was pouring from the stage at the Ryman Sunday night was incredible. All the members in the band interacted with the audience. Every single one of them. It’s hard enough to just get the lead singer of many other bands to do it, let alone a band of 8 people. The audience reacted to the band with an outpouring of love and appreciation for what they were seeing and hearing, and this was the one time I was in a room full of musicians at a concert and we weren’t standing there with our arms crossed, stoic faced and whispering to our buddies or thinking in our heads “we can do that better.” Because we know we can’t. This room full of musicians had so much respect for Toto and what they could deliver that each and every one of us were actually able to relax and take in everything without judgement. Without worry of wrong notes or out-of-key singers or some idiot on stage with a microphone talking out his ass and saying something stupid. This was completely about the music, and because of that, everyone in that auditorium was completely in the moment. We were lost in the memories of our past with hits like “Rosanna,” “Africa,” “Hold the Line” or “Georgy Porgy.” Toto’s new songs from their latest CD Toto XIV were met with loud cheers and proved that, no matter what, Toto is not going down for the count anytime soon. The members of Toto also brought something to the stage I don’t see very often. Humility. Along with stories of days gone by shared by David Paich and Steve Lukather (some of those even having to do with Nashville) they conveyed how thankful they were to still be able to do this for a living after almost 40 years and to be able to perform here in Nashville, a city that is alive with music almost 24 hours a day and be in a room filled with musicians of whom they knew “got it”. They understood the music, what it takes to be a great musician, the music business and the absolute shit that bands and performers have to put up with on a daily basis, especially in today’s social media environment.

Bands like Toto are a rarity. So rare in fact, they are a dying breed. Toto is the best of the best on every level – musically, songwriting and performing but most importantly, personally. They are a family and it shows on stage. No matter who is in the band, Toto is hands down, quite simply, the best band live you will ever see. Toto still write and perform with world class ability and I am forever blessed to have finally witnessed it first hand. The fact that most of America doesn’t get how good Toto is is sad, but not surprising. We are a culture of immediate gratification with little to no focus on the learning, understanding or even truly enjoying what we choose to entertain ourselves with. This is America’s loss and unfortunately, America likes to let others prosper where they truly aren’t qualified to.

The only issue I had with the show is this. It wasn’t long enough. Yes, I know they planned a longer show, but let’s be real, you can never get enough Toto. There was so much great music we unfortunately didn’t hear from CD’s like “Kingdom of Desire” and being that Toto rarely performs in the United States anymore (not due to them really) I may never get the chance to see them again. That is heartbreaking to think about. Especially once you have seen what real musicians sound like when performing together at such a high level.

Steve Lukather

I dread going out to concerts most of the time these days, even here in Nashville. But Sunday night, August 21st, 2016 Toto gave me a night I will never, ever forget and it will live in my memory forever. So to those who made this concert possible for me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I love you forever for allowing me to experience something so amazing, so beautiful and so inspiring.

To those who have not witnessed Toto live, do everything you can to see them. You won’t regret it. For those of you who have written them off, shame on you. Put your Green Day CD down and turn on some Toto and start listening to music for the colors you are missing. Quit settling for music in only black and white.

To the musicians who still don’t get it, pull your head out of your ass and study this band. If you think Toto “sucks,” you probably aren’t a very good musician to begin with and you certainly aren’t being intellectually honest with yourself. If you don’t like their style, that is fine, there is nothing wrong with that, but give respect where respect is due. If nothing more than for the simple reason of actually learning and growing as a musician both musically and performance wise, buy a ticket and watch what a band should truly look and sound like on stage. Their is no better example of excellence than this band right here.

To the members of Toto – David Paich, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Joseph Williams, Leland Sklar, Lenny Castro, Shannon Forest, Mabvuto and Jenny Douglas, thank you not only for the excellence you bring to the stage, but the passion you bring with it. Thank you for choosing Nashville as a place to perform and for making one man’s dream finally come true. Thank you for proving that being excellent at what you do is where it is at and never stop creating. Some of us out here actually appreciate it and are incredibly inspired by all of you.

Part II – The Rant

Sunday night August 21st, 2016 was a dream come true for me personally. There are very few bands or musicians in the world that I just had to see. Very few that had earned the right to separate me from my money because, to be honest, most bands in the pop/rock genre are just not very talented anymore. Sure, now and then, there are people who write a good song when maybe they aren’t the strongest musicians or songwriters, but there are so few that are amazing musicians, creative songwriters and good people on top of it. Toto is a band that I have waited 34 years to see live. Why? Well, they don’t play in the USA very often. It isn’t something that is feasible for a band with that many members to come play in a country that just doesn’t get it. Not just about Toto, but about music in general. America is into fads, not art.

If you take painters for example, they create art on all different levels. From stick figures to amazing pieces of art such as the work Michelangelo did on the Sistine Chapel. Or the work of Monet, Van Gogh or Picasso. As Americans, we tend to like our musicians to be on the level of stick figure artists. There is very little color to the art. Mostly, just black. Art (whatever the medium) should be piece of work that take you away with the color, the imagination and the techniques that draw a viewer in. A piece that is so good, you get more out of it every time you look at it. A piece that makes you see and feel things you didn’t before. The average person isn’t able to discern or grasp the greatness of the masters because they aren’t trained in it. They are ignorant as to what it takes to truly make masterpieces. The general population has such limited knowledge as to who the greatest artists are and exactly why they are considered “masters”. We just don’t get it. You could take just about anyone into a museum and they wouldn’t have any idea what they are looking at or if it should be considered good art or bad art. They know what appeals to them, but that is all. They don’t know why it appeals them, it just does. They can’t explain it, they just know what they like or don’t like by looking at it. Eventually, as one spends more time studying art, they learn more about the nuances and begin to understand in much more depth what should be considered great “art”. That piece of art still may not connect with them, but now at least, they are starting to understand it and why it is considered one of the “greats”.

That is the easiest way for me to explain in layman’s terms how the general population hears music in my opinion. Stick figures versus the amazing impressionism of Monet. We love to call ourselves fans of music and say things like “music is my life,” but the reality is, most people miss the greatest music because they aren’t able to discern a musician’s creativity, ability or level of expertise. Plus the general public seems to think that music has a shelf life. Their favorite TV shows, movies or books don’t, but music, music gets the shaft. The general public loves to lift up musicians (before ripping them apart a few years later because, well, just because they are older as Toto has witnessed first hand) that truly are extremely limited in musical ability and call them geniuses, when the truth is, most of these people can’t play their instrument beyond any extremely basic level. Well except Kanye, he doesn’t actually play an instrument or sing, but he is a creative musical genius despite all that, according to himself. America, in particular, is completely ignorant when it comes to music. What? How dare you say that America is ignorant. You are an asshole, sir! That is what you are thinking to yourself. However, the proof is in the pudding. Most bands will do much better overseas than they will in America. Why? Because they are more open to music of different styles, levels of ability and they don’t care how “old” the band is either. Bands like Toto have amazingly strong fan bases overseas but they are shunned in their home country simply because people don’t get it and are more hung up on fads than the quality of the art they subject their ears to. I have toured the world in bands and had our music sandwiched between DIO and Judas Priest while that particular song I was on was much more pop/rock oriented. We could tour and pull in 2,000 to 30,000 people and nobody knew who we were. The culture overseas is much different and much more appreciative of music than America is. Many countries are more musically educated through the school system and seem to be more into things other than sports as opposed to the USA. Yet for some reason, the USA is where you make it big and where everyone dreams of finding success. The irony.

Toto

Imagine you, yourself, watching someone at your job getting paid 3 or 4 times as much as you, but they aren’t capable of even coming close to your level of expertise at your job. You’d be fuming and throwing a fit. You’d probably be demanding a raise or else. But with music, we don’t hold standards of excellence as a bar that needs to be reached especially for our money. We don’t look at musicians like they should get paid what they are worth or based on actual talent. Hell most of the population doesn’t know what talent truly is when it comes to music. We don’t care how good a band or performer really is, we only care about what we in our limited understanding like to hear. We demand excellence everywhere else in our lives, whether it be work, customer service, people we hire or our sports entertainers for us to spend our money on or support and invest time in and if they fail or have a bad game, we roast them alive to their bosses or on social media. But not with music. With music we usually accept complete mediocrity and make the “average” into stars. Think about that people. You pay your hard earned money to go watch mostly below average musicians. You throw a fit for a $10 burger not being cooked right because you expect them to make it exactly like you ordered and paid for, but you have zero problem paying $150 a ticket to go listen to people play out of key, out of time and probably stoned or drunk of their ass. It’s astounding and quite literally, pathetic and stupid.

Toto has long been one of my greatest musical influences because they are simply one of the best bands to ever grace a stage in the world. You won’t find a group of more talented musicians as a whole hardly anywhere. If you are musically inclined enough to listen to any form of Jazz or Classical, then yes, you will. But in any form of Pop/Rock music? Not even close. No matter who the members of Toto at the time, each and every one of them is an extremely capable and talented musician. They are the cream of the crop but yet the general public treats them like has beens not realizing that just about every professional musician credits them as an influence or recognizes how talented these musicians are individually and as a band. The members of Toto have played on over 4,000 CD’s. No other band can even come close to saying the same thing. Understand this people, the members or Toto are the real deal and the shit.

So in closing, America, please pull your heads out of your collective asses and make an effort to appreciate music of all styles and levels. Realize, that great music doesn’t have a shelf life and the vast majority of you are missing out on the wondrous sonic landscape that a band like Toto brings to the table. Become a true music lover and not a faux music lover. Music is for everyone, not just those who are popular at the time.

(AUGUST 2016) ANDY TIMMONS BAND to tour the East coast, Northwest and Midwest this fall, debuting the soon to be released album “Theme From A Perfect World” as well as Sgt. Pepper and classic favorites. When Ibanez displays their instruments at music industry trade shows they prominently feature the world’s greatest guitar heroes; Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert…and Andy Timmons.

Timmons sparked his own guitar revolution scoring two top 10 videos on MTV with his band Danger Danger, selling over a million records, and touring the world opening for Kiss and Alice Cooper. A handful of critically acclaimed solo albums followed soon after as well as a long association as guitarist and music director for Olivia Newton-John.

Often referred to as “The King Of Tone,” Timmons scored another global success in 2011with his emotive interpretation of The Beatles ‘Sgt. Pepper’ album entirely arranged for guitar. Never one to sit still, Timmons also recorded four albums with world renowned drummer Simon Philips (Toto, The Who, Jeff Beck) and played them live across much of the world.

The Andy Timmons Band will be touring with special guest Travis Larson Band. With six studio albums and two full-length DVDs, the award-winning TLB is firmly rooted as one of instrumental music’s premier acts, having worked on records with Steve Lukather (Toto), Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck), Dave LaRue (Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Dixie Dregs), Vinx (Sting, Herbie Hancock). Additionally, the band has shared live billing with Ted Nugent, UFO, Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs), Ronnie Montrose, and The Aristocrats. TLB’s release Soundmind earned accolades as Guitar Player Magazine Editor’s Top Three in 2011. Travis Larson Band will release a new album in 2016. http://www.travislarsonband.com

Guitar virtuoso Mike Martin (http://www.mikemartin.net) releases his new ballad single “Wherever You Are” digitally on iTunes and cdbaby (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mikemartin2). In an excerpt from his blog on releasing this single Mike states, “Wherever You Are” was written in January of 2005 as I was preparing to head to the UK and EU for the first time touring with both heavy metal bands Fozzy and Stuck Mojo for about five weeks. Being prone to OCD and feeling quite anxious about the tour preparations both logistically and mentally, in a calm moment in the chaos this ballad came out of my head!

It was written and a demo comprised of just two acoustic guitar parts was recorded in about an hour the day before my flight overseas. I enjoyed being a heavy metal animal on the road and forgot all about this tune for a while. It was only performed one time live on the radio in Atlanta, GA as part of a promotion for a show I was performing locally later that year and was put away. Until now…

I have delayed work on my follow-up album to “2 of 5” for a number of years due to my touring, writing and recording commitments with other projects, so I have been going through the archives looking for songs that would be fun to release as singles while I’m finishing up my new album “Drive” which I expect to release in Spring of 2016.

The title of this piece is for my wife. She has held me together through all of the roller coaster highs and lows of this music career and when I am traveling, I often look up in the sky to get my bearings and send her thoughts of missing and loving her wherever she might be at that moment in time. The release date is also perfectly timed with the 20th anniversary of our meeting.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope you enjoy!”

Mike Martin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-mxPfwyZ-4
The single is available on CD Baby for only .99₵ and his previous single “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel” is .50₵ and his CD “2 of 5” is now available during the promotion of the new single for only $5.00.

The Lowry Agency is a full service artist management/development and promotions agency. Primarily they work with musicians, actors, speakers, voice over artists, entertainment companies as well as music coordination/supervision for film and TV.

For more information about Mike Martin please visit the web site and social media accounts:

“Wherever You Are” was written in January of 2005 as I was preparing to head to the UK and EU for the first time touring with both heavy metal bands Fozzy and Stuck Mojo for about five weeks. Being prone to OCD and feeling quite anxious about the tour preparations both logistically and mentally, in a calm moment in the chaos this ballad came out of my head!

It was written and a demo comprised of just two acoustic guitar parts was recorded in about an hour the day before my flight overseas. I enjoyed being a heavy metal animal on the road and forgot all about this tune for a while. It was only performed one time live on the radio in Atlanta, GA as part of a promotion for a show I was performing locally later that year and was put away. Until now…

I have delayed work on my follow-up album to “2 of 5” for a number of years due to my touring, writing and recording commitments with other projects, so I have been going through the archives looking for songs that would be fun to release as singles while I’m finishing up my new album “Drive” which I expect to release in Spring of 2016.

The title of this piece is for my wife. She has held me together through all of the roller coaster highs and lows of this music career and when I am traveling, I often look up in the sky to get my bearings and send her thoughts of missing and loving her wherever she might be at that moment in time. The release date is also perfectly timed with the 20th anniversary of our meeting.

The Winery Dogs featuring three renowned musicians in Richie Kotzen (solo, Mr. Big, Poison), Billy Sheehan (David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Niacin) and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Adrenaline Mob, Avenged Sevenfold, Flying Colors, Neil Morse Band, Twisted Sister) made their first tour stop to Nashville at The Wildhorse Saloon. Now to be honest, these three musicians are probably my 3 favorite musicians respective to their instruments so I had very high hopes going into this show. Their first CD was in my Top 2 for 2013 and the latest CD Hot Streak just dropped two weeks ago and is as amazing as their first if not better.

The Winery Dogs opened with their new single “Oblivion” which is an up-tempo burner that has a great catchy chorus and great double lines featuring Richie and Billy in unison. The song is a testament to great writing and playing as well as balanced enough to be radio worthy and capturing the ear of even the most casual listener.

The band played songs from both of their releases have a great blend of tempos even featuring Richie going solo with an acoustic on the ballad “Fire” from their new CD “Hot Streak.” Richie also played a few songs on the electric piano showing even more of his immense musical talent playing keyboards. Not to mention that Richie has one most distinctive and is a premier voice in the rock/soul music industry. He is given nowhere near the credit he deserves as a vocalist and it’s a shame. There are few that sing with the emotion that he does and he has soul oozing out his poors.

Things that really stand out about this band live are this. They sound absolutely huge for being a three piece band. Each member completely knows how to fill space and make it seems like there is much more there than just three instruments. All three sing, so there are strong background vocals making the sound very full and melodic. It’s hard enough to sing and play as it is let alone sing and play like these three do. There should be a special award for this feat alone. The Winery Dogs are virtuosos of their instruments (they hate this term) and I am not just talking technically. Yes, each member is world renown for their skills as musicians but, they are also amazing songwriters and know when and how to use chops. It’s never for just speed for the sake of speed. They are tools in creating a certain ambiance or effect for the music. Everything has its place and is perfectly in place. It’s creative, catchy and most importantly always melodic. Many technical players never achieve any of this. The Winery Dogs are masters at it. The Winery Dogs fuse rock, blues, jazz and funk seamlessly and effortlessly. It’s the perfect amalgamation and it works on every level.

The Winery Dogs are hands down, the best rock band in the world. When you consider what they bring to table as musicians, songwriters, experience and creativity, no one can touch them. They are one of the few acts that are actually better live and their CD’s are beyond compare so that is saying something. They are best of what a rock band should be and also what they should not be. While rock is about breaking rules, The Winery Dogs not only break them, they shatter them and put the pieces back together for a more amazing project and they do it with the ultimate humility.

There is no better show, no better ticket purchase. There is zero reason to go and pay $150 for a band when you can see this one for $25 and see three of the best, most accomplished musicians do what they do best, and do it better than everyone else period.

This was without a doubt the best live show I have ever seen with the classiest, most amazing musicians on the scene. Do not miss The Winery Dogs. You will most certainly miss the best of the best doing incredible things that deserve your attention.

The Opening band of the night was Kicking Harold was another 3-piece out of California. A solid four on the floor rock band with a big sound and decent groovy songs. The motor car theme of the band is certainly original and the musicians seem capable. The bass player Julia Lage has done work on some or Richie Kotzen’s recent work and was some BGV’s on the new Winery Dogs CD. A good band worth checking out if you are looking for new solid rock music. www.kickingharold.com